Date of birth:

August 2nd, 1912 (Gibraltar, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

July 10th, 1943

Service number:

52471

Nationality:

British

Vincent McNeil Cooke was born in Gibraltar where his father was the resident British dentist. He was educated at St.Edward’s School, Oxford, from September 1927 until December 1930 and after that went to university.
In June 1939 he was called up and had to report to the School of Anti-Aircraft Defence at Biggin Hill being posted with the Royal Scots Fuseliers, 2nd Batalion. The Battalion was sent to France as part of the BEF. After the retreat and evacuation form Dunkirk, the battalion was reformed in Aberdeenshire.
On the 23rd March 1942 the 2nd Battalion embarked on the troopship Oronsay at Liverpool for the long voyage to Madagascar. Following the capture of the island McNeil Cooke suffered form colitis.
From there McNeil Cooke and the 2nd Batalion moved to India and thereafter to Iraq. On July 10th the btn landed on Sicily during which McNeil Cooke suffered serious leg injuries. He was evacuated to the hospital ship Talamba which was subsequently sunk by enemy action on the same day killing McNeil Cooke.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Captain

Unit:

2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers (2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers)

Awarded on:

July 11th, 1940

Citation:
"Throughout the operation of 17th Infantry Brigade between 10th and 31st May, 1940, Captain McNeill-Cooke acted as liaison officer between Brigade H.Q. and the units of 17th Infantry Brigade. During the actions on R.SCARPE on 23rd May and on the YPRES-COMMINES Canal he frequently had to pass through heavy enemy shelling and small arms fire in order to establish contact with units in the front line. He never failed to reach his destination or to procure the information required. His reports were invariably clear and accurate, thereby contributing materially to the handling of the Brigade at a time when no other means of communication existed."

• - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 34893 published on the 9 July 1940
  - Home Headquarters The Royal Highland Fusiliers 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland